Everything to Know About the Live Nation Verdict, What It Means for Fans, and What’s Next
The landmark decision could reshape the live entertainment industry, but a lot has to happen first
Big changes could be coming to the concert and live entertainment industry. On Wednesday, a jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for operating as a monopoly , marking one of the most significant antitrust decisions in recent memory.
Originally sued by the Department of Justice in 2024 (with nearly 40 states, plus Washington D.C., signing on as co-plaintiffs at the time), Live Nation was accused of exerting outsized influence over the live entertainment industry thanks to dominant positions in ticketing, promotions, and venues. For instance, the jury heard testimony that Live Nation threatened to withhold lucrative concerts from large venues that did not sign exclusive deals with Ticketmaster; and that artists who wanted to play Live Nation-owned amphitheaters also had to use the company as a promoter.
Lawyers for Live Nation countered that the company had succeeded on its own merits. Live Nation’s multi-pronged business model, they claimed, was no different from that of its competitors, and its success was predicated on offering the best quality product and services to artists, fans, and venue owners.
The jury ultimately ruled against Live Nation, but how exactly this decision will affect the real world remains unclear. The judge overseeing the case still needs to decide remedies, and Live Nation has confirmed it will appeal. Still, a landmark decision is a landmark decision — here’s a complete guide to everything that happened, and what comes next.
Enormous. The jury decided overwhelmingly against Live Nation, with a checkmark sitting next to every “Yes” box on the 10-page verdict form . As Jeffrey Kessler, the lawyer who took over the case as lead counsel after the DOJ settled mid-trial, told Rolling Stone , “There are lots of ways we could have had less than a total victory, but this was a total victory.”
What exactly were Live Nation and Ticketmaster found liable for?